Chapter 4

Lester's words hit Natalie like a stroke of lightning. Did she…actually win the Best Female Lead award?

Lester was still talking to the other person.

Natalie's gaze fell on the bouquet he was holding, thinking how sarcastic it all was.

She confidently guaranteed that Lester wouldn't betray his principles for the sake of personal matters, yet reality proved her painfully wrong.

Her stare might've been too intense, so much so that Lester noticed her.

When their eyes met, a flustered look crossed Lester's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Walking over with the bouquet, he said in a resigned tone, "Nat, let Rene have the award for Best Female Lead this time. Keep this a secret, okay?"

Natalie couldn't believe his audacity to request that of her.

"Lester Garrison, the honor was originally mine. Why should I let her have it?"

Lester tugged on his necktie. He sounded slightly impatient as he said, "You're not even acting anymore. Why would you still need the title? Besides, if you hadn't commented on my tweet and made her angry, I wouldn't have to come up with this idea to please her."

His hurtful remark brought tears to Natalie's eyes. With a trembled voice, she asked, "Are you saying I deserve having that award snatched from me?"

Lester seldom saw Natalie in such a fragile state. He stepped forward and put an arm around her shoulders.

In a softened tone, he coaxed, "Nat, I don't mean it that way. It's just that I'm still interested in Rene, so of course I have to be nice to her. When my interest in her falters, I'll immediately take back the trophy and return it to you.

"Don't worry. I know who my wife is. I'm just being nice to Irene on the surface, so don't let it get to you."

For the past two years, Natalie had heard similar excuses more times than she could count, until she no longer felt anything when he said that.

He'd say he was only fooling around, that she would still be his wife, and that everything he did was just a pretense.

From his point of view, there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. However, if Natalie—his wife—acted out over it, she would be considered petty and insensible.

Natalie broke free from his hold and forced her tears back.

"There's no need, Mr. Garrison. I won't want a tainted trophy."

She didn't want a tainted husband too.

With that, she staggered out of the event venue without even looking to see what expression he had and went home.

The next day, she woke up early and started packing her belongings.

Except for the daily necessities she'd need to bring to Echalon, she packed and threw away the rest as trash, including items she'd shared with Lester.

The photo album that contained photos of them from when they were dating until they got married, the large wedding photo that they spent a fortune on, her favorite hydrangeas in the yard that Lester planted himself…

They dated for four years and were married for another three. All told, they'd been living in this house for seven years, and every corner of the house held shared memories.

Natalie spent a fortnight gradually getting rid of all the objects that were tied to so many memories.

Eventually, the once-cozy home was returned to its state from seven years earlier—a mansion devoid of warmth.

During those two weeks, Lester never came home.

Natalie knew where he was, though.

According to what he'd done in the past, he'd accompany his new lover for at least one month whenever he started a new affair.

Besides, Irene was never one to keep a low profile. She shared their affectionate moments on Twitter almost every day.

The day before, Lester took her out to sea for fishing and personally cooked for her.

Yesterday, he visited her on set and dotingly massaged her calves.

Perhaps clearing the mansion of their shared memories had helped cool down Natalie's feelings for him. When she saw Irene's posts, she merely paused momentarily before scrolling to the next.

After she was done packing, she drove to the mall. The filming duration for a movie was usually lengthy. She'd be in Echalon for at least two years and would need more clothes.

She shopped all afternoon and filled the trunk of her car with shopping bags. Closing the trunk, she opened the door to get into the car, ready to leave.

She had barely placed her foot in the driver's seat when a strong force grabbed and pulled her out.

Caught off guard, she fell heavily to the ground. Her arm was badly scraped, and blood trickled down it.

Enduring the pain, she propped her body up and saw that it was a group of young girls.

But she didn't know them.

"Who are you?"

The girls glared at her with contempt.

One of them stepped forward and grabbed her hair. She scolded, "It's all because of this bitch! If she had just given up her title as Mr. Garrison's wife, Reenie and Mr. Garrison could already have been together long ago!

"Now, they're already divorced, yet she has the audacity to spend Mr. Garrison's money on shopping! How shameless!"